Spring has finally arrived and the Pasque flowers, tulips and daffodils are beginning to show up. Visitors of all ages are invited to create spring flowers of their own at Family Fun Saturday on May 19 from 10-11:30 a.m. CDT at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.
All supplies are provided and children should be accompanied by an adult. The program is free, and admission to the museum gallery is also free during the program hours.
“The Pasque flower was designated South Dakota’s state flower in 1903,” said Jay Smith, museum director. “Every year this little lavender flower blooms on the prairies and lets us know that spring has finally arrived. At Family Fun Saturday our visitors can make flowers of their own to take home and enjoy.”
The state Office of Tourism publication “South Dakota Grasses, Wildflowers and Crops” describes Pasque flowers as one of the first to bloom on the prairie each spring. Members of the buttercup family, Pasque flowers grow from six to 16 inches tall and their color varies from light blue or deep lavender to white. They have a gold center, and appear throughout the state in April and May.
All of the Family Fun Days are Saturday from 10-11:30 except for “Make-and-Take a Holiday Ornament” on Nov. 3, which runs from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The museum is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT Monday through Saturday, and 1-4:30 p.m. on Sundays and most holidays. Call 605.773.3458 for more information on exhibits, special events and upcoming activities.
About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.
